LATAM transports a rare white baby rhinoceros from Chile to Brazil
After more than a year of planning, LATAM Cargo Group flew a two-tonne white rhinoceros from Chile to Brazil for an international conservation programme.
LATAM Cargo Group has transported a rare southern white rhinoceros by air from Chile to Brazil, following more than a year of detailed logistical planning for the live animal shipment. The operation, carried out in collaboration with logistics company SPARX, supports international conservation and breeding efforts for the endangered species.
The relocation was completed on December 2, when Atanasio, a southern white rhinoceros born at Buinzoo Biopark in 2020, was flown to São Paulo, Brazil. The five-year-old animal will now take part in an international conservation and breeding programme aimed at protecting the species.
Weighing close to two tonnes, Atanasio, born during the Covid-19 pandemic, is one of only three southern white rhinoceroses born under professional care in Latin America. All three were born at Buinzoo Biopark in Chile. His siblings include Pantaleón, born in 2017 and transported by LATAM Cargo Group to Colombia in 2022 to join a conservation programme, and Silverio, born in 2024, who remains in Chile with his parents, Hanna and Oliver.
The relocation required more than a year of planning by SPARX Logistics, which managed documentation, international procedures, shipment preparation and operational coordination to ensure the animal’s safety and well-being throughout the journey.
“Our goal was to guarantee optimal conditions in a custom-designed container, which meant planning each stage well in advance. Everything was taken into consideration to prevent any stress. We even assigned a specialist from our team to accompany Atanasio throughout the journey, which was key to providing stability during the flight and improving his adaptation to the new habitat,” said Juan Manuel Rojas, Global CEO of SPARX Logistics.
“These types of operations showcase our technical capabilities and LATAM’s commitment to initiatives that generate a positive impact. Transporting an animal of this size requires rigorous planning and the involvement of multiple teams, always prioritising the animal’s well-being and safety. We are proud to support projects that contribute to species conservation in South America,” said Juan Pablo Márquez, Senior Operations Manager for South America at LATAM Cargo Group.
Buinzoo Biopark described the relocation as a significant milestone in regional conservation efforts for the species, of which only around 20,000 individuals remain worldwide.
“This successful relocation of our rhinoceros is the result of collaborative work across multiple organisations. We are making a significant contribution to the conservation of a species of which only around 20,000 individuals remain worldwide. Being the only institution in the region to have achieved the reproduction of three calves positions us as a reference and leader in animal preservation. This motivates us to continue advancing on this path, with the goal of leaving a better world for future generations,” said Ignacio Idalsoaga, Director of Buinzoo Biopark.
Atanasio’s arrival in Brazil is expected to strengthen conservation initiatives led by South American institutions over the past decade, based on collaboration, technical exchange and the development of specialised breeding programmes.
The relocation marks the second rhinoceros born in Chile to be transported abroad for conservation purposes and the third international relocation involving this family carried out by LATAM Cargo Group. The airline previously transported Atanasio’s parents from South Africa to Chile in 2013, underscoring its ongoing role in complex live animal air cargo operations.
